Method and apparatus for evaporating liquids.



W. T. HOOFNAGLE;

METHOD AND APPARATUS FORYEVAPORATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12, 1916.

Batented Apr. 23, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHFET I.

W. T. HOOFNAGLE. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING LIQUIDS.

APPLlCATlON FILED 06112, 1915.

Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

2 SHEETS-Sl1EET 2.

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'wrnnrnra r. noornaonn, or seen nrroen, new a'nnsamnasreimn ro nnno'rnoorrnrrrcan rnonuors coivrranir, or new roars, 1t, rm; coiarona rron or new Specification oi Letters Patent. Patgnmtaed Apr, 23, jlgllg,

application filed tlctcber 12, 1916. Serial Ito. Mitt at.

5 and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Evaporating Liquids,

of which the following is aspecilication.

This invention relates to a method of and i0 apparatus for effecting rapid vaporization of liquids in a partial vacuum. The invention is. particularly adapted to the purposes of refrigeration and ice-making, but it may also be employed for removing water from any body, such as Water from brine to ob tain the salt crystals, or for drying or desiccating any substance containing water or moisture. in the following" specification and by'reference to the accompanying drawingythe invention will be described as applied to the refrigerating art.

In making ice by the vacuum process, it has heretofore been necessary to maintain a very low pressure, approximating d m. m.

absolute pressure, in the freezing chamber in order to lower the temperature of the water to the freezing point. At this low pressure, the volume of the vapor with-- drawn from the water is very great and so the most serious problem in making ice by this process, in commercial quantities, has been that of disposing of the vapors by removing them from the freezingchamber. Attempts'to remove the vapors by exhaust pumps alone have proven commercially impractical because of the enormous size or capacity of the pumps required for the purpose. This latter objectionjis overcome in practice, and ice is commercially manufac- 4o tured, by providing absorbers between the pump and the freezing chamber, whereby a large amount of the vapor lSXlIGlHOi "GCl in the absorber system and a pump of smaller capacity used to exhaust the unabsorbed I t5 gases and vapors from the chamber. But

the use of absorbers in which hydroscopio fiuids, such as sulfuric acid, are employed, entails the use of concentators and other special apparatus, which involve consider- Eb able expense for operation and maintenance.

By means of the present invention, a freezing temperature may be maintained in the freezing chamber with exhaust mechanism of small capacity and without the use of absorbers. lln carrying out my invention, instead of a sorbing the vapor by fluid having an ailinity for water, ll provide means whereby the volume of vapor leaving the water is reduced before entering the pump,

by coalescence on ions, so that the volume of vapor to be removed is brought lowenough to permit of theuse of a pump of" small capacity Furthermore, by the present improvements, I find it possible to maintain a freezing temperature With a much higher pressure in the freezing chamber than is required with the vacuum process asordinarily used for ice-making.

in carrying out my invention, I provide a closed freezing chamber to which is connected suitable exhaust mechanism, and instead of attempting to excl dc air'entirely from the apparatus, I arrange to permit a certain amount of air to flow in closecorr tool; with the water to be cooled or frozen, and thence to mingle with the vapors rising from the water on their way to the exhaust mechanism. A marked increase in the vaporization of the Water and lowering of the temperature is noted, over the ordinary process, where a limited quantity of air is ad mitted in close contact with the water, as explained in my prior application, Serial. No. a3,971, filed Aug. 6, 1915.

The problem of exhausting the vapor from the freezing chamber is relieved to a considerable extentv by the condition that.v where the air is used, it is not necessary to operate at so high a vacuum, and hence, to 'erpelthe "less compression is required in he exhaust mechanism, as explained in. the aforesaid :pplication. ly my present invention, 1 am enabled tostill further in crease the elliciency of the plant by causing coalescence of the vapor before it passes to the exhaust niecl'ianism, whereby the volume of vapor to be expelled by said mechanism is greatly reduced. in order to accomplish this coalescence, ll provide means for ionizing the mingled and vapor flowing from the water to the pump, or the air or other ionizable gas before mingling with the vapor, and the ions form nuclei around which the vapors coalesce. The ionizing influence is preferabl ,yproduced by an electric discharge, although it may be produwd by nular outlet nozzle within. a clos sat other means. 'lheionizatibfi is more complete because of the relatively low pressure prevailin fin the a1. paratus, whiclrpermits ionizatiorf to take place by collisions between charged and uncharged particles, Provision is made for intermittently expanding the gases, which reduces the temperature of the gases and facilitates coalescence of the va por around the ions; but with very strong ionization, this expansion is not essential.

Figure l of the accompanying dr'znving illustrates, partly in outline and partly-in detail a refrigerating plant illustrative of my invention; land, v

Fig, 2 is a Similai yic showing the ionizing chamber differehtly connected.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, 1 indicates a pump for delivering water,'fr0m a suitable source," to a deaera-ting' chamber 3, through a pipe 2, and spray ng nozzle 4. The dcaerating chamber contains bafiles 5 and an agitating device 6, and this chamber is connected by a pipe 7 to an exhaust pump 8. In operation,'the water-flows over the ballies in a thin stream and is agitated in the bottom of the chamber, and v most of the air entrained in thewater passes off through the pipe 7. The pump 8 is constantly in operation and the valve 9 in the pipe 7 re mains partly or wholly open. The water from the dfeaerating chamber 3 'is allowed to pass at intervals; 1n regulated quantities, through a pipe 10, having an an d evaporating or freezing c "amber 12.= The pipe 10 contains a normaly closed valve, indicated at 13, the stem of which is adapted to be engaged and moved,yto open'the valve, by cam surfaces 14: im a cam wheel 14:, This cam wheel is mounted-"upon a'suitable shaft 15, to which is secured a ratchet wheel 16, and upon} the ,shaftis' arranged a bell crank ratphettlever,17,,having apawl 17' 'for engagingl the teeth of "he ratchet wheel. One arnwoftheratchetfever projects into the path of movement ofapin 18, on a worm wheellt), which is'ldr'iven by a Worm 20, on

a shaft 20, conneiite'd to a suitable source of power (notshovyni). The worm wheel turns in the direct-ion,ofithe-aarrow, and at "each revolution said wheel, the pin 18 engages the ratchet lever and causes the pawl. thereon liq-m at the ,ratchet'wheel and cam wheel a distaflee tothel ength' of one of tl camsfl fi The stem of; the ways normal y & lll

restsfbetween twfofof thefcafms on thec i-wheel, asshown, and/at each movement of the cam wheel, thevalve opens and closes, admitting a predeterminedquantity of wa t r, 4. u y 4 ter to the refrigerating ehamben, The amount of water admitted ay regulated by adius'tijtig thelcngth ofjthe valven stem so I as to meyeijtse or decrease the duration of its engagenrent with the successive cams. f The eva crating of refrigeratingfcha m ber is provided with' an opening in one side through which a freezing can 21 may be inserted and removed, and a door 12 is provided for hermetically scaling this opening. The can is supported upon a cradle c, which is hung onl'pivots on the sides of the chamber '12, and a cam 20*, on the shaft 20, engaging lugs on the cradle, swings'the latter and the can as the shaft rotates. A pipe 22 connects the evaporating or refrigerating chamber-with the pipe 7, and thence to the exhaust pump '8, and by means of these connections the refrigerating chamber may be preliminarily exhausted after the freezing can is placed within it and the door of the chamber is closed. A valve 23 in thepipe-22 may be opened to connect the freezing chamber with the pump 8, and after 'said chamber has been exhausted, this valvomay be closed or left partially open, according to the conditions prevailing in the refrigeratingchamber.

In the central part of the top of the refrigerating chamber is arranged a cylindrical casing 24:, in the upper part of-whieh is a stufiing box 25, and a pipe ,26 extends through this stalling box intwth'e refrigeraten d a conical air deflecting device (L' The pipe 26 is movable vertically in the stulling box 25 and a stationa ay pipc section 26, into which it fits telescopically. A stalling box 28 is arranged within the lowerend' of the section 26 and surrounds the pipe 26. The

pipe 26 issupported by a lever 29, fulcrumed at 30 11pou a supporting arm 31,

projecting from the casing of the refrigerating chamber; One arm of the lever 29 has a forked end which engages a collar 32,

secured to the pipe, and the opposite arm of the lever is connectcd'by-a cable 35 to a drum 36, shown in dotted lines, operated by the ratchet wheel 16. It will be evident that each time the ratchet wheel is moved to cause the valve 13 to open and admit water" to the refrigerating chamber, the pipe 26 and air distributer (I will be raised a given distance.

The casing 24, surroumling the pipe 26,

is provided in'order to'form' an oil-well to receive any oil or grease which may pass doyw-nwardon said pipe from its bearings,

rid to prcvcnt this oil and grease from on- ,tfihing the freezing can, where it would not ny contaminate the water, but where it would vcuvseriously interfere.\\'ith the cooling or freezing operation, since it would prevent"theicvaporation of the water.

' A nain exhaust pump 41, preferably of the; reciprocating type, has its suction end connected to the interior of the refrigerat- -i'ng chamber, through an ionizing chamber 42, presently to be described, and the compr ession'side ,of the pump is connected by a pipe-43, through an oil filter f, to a surface naeaeea condenser 44, from which a return pipe extends to the upper end of the pipe secthe operation of the apparatus, the vapors drawn from the refrigerating chamber, and

. also the air contained therein, pass through in the ionizing chamber 42 and pipe d8 to the surface condenser where the vapors are con densed, the water of condensation passing" through an extended drainage pipe 4:? to the well to, while the air is returned to the refrigerating chamber through the pipes 4&5 and 26. The air within the apparatus thus flows in a closed circuit, while the vapors are condensed and removed. The cooling water tor-the condenser enters through a pipe 48 and leaves the condenser by way of a pipe d9. -For removing surplus air from. the apparatus, a pipe 50 is connected to the 4 condenser and to a small enhaust pump 51, and in this pipe s arranged a suitable pres-- sure regulating valve 52, adapted to open automatlcally when the air pressure in the apparatus is greater than necessary for the proper operation of the apparatus.

The features thus far described are much the same as 111 my prior application above preferred to. In the present invention there is provided in they pipe/l5 a rotary valve 53,

which is constarubly driven While the plant is 1n operation by a belt fitconnected to a suitable source of power. This valve operair flowing through the pipe to the freezing ychamber and the intermittently moving air flows'out in short gusts over the surface of the water, hemp, deflected as it passes out of the-pipe 26 by the conical. deflector d. This deflector isv adjustably mounted in the end to vary the width of the the air is directed over the Water, and in the "close contact with it which is found to be Very essential for creating a low ture, and the intermittentliow of the'air causes an agitation or" the water, which, as is well known, "accelerates the process oi forming; icewhen the water is at freezing The reciprowating pu ip 4.1

e gas cruised by flow at the valve which expansions lower the temperature ct the. gases and facilitate condensation, as hereinafter explained. interposed between the evaporating or freezing chamber and the main exhaust pump 41,.is arranged what may be termed anioniziiig chamber 4&9, through wh h, the

pump and in which they vapors and air flow on their way a the suhgectcd to I annular series part of the casing, into an annular conduittemper ac upper part of the freezing chamber, and this pipe is connected by an insulating oint 5*! to a pipe 58, (linen-conducting material, preferably glass, which latter pipe extends through the center of a cylindrical vessel 09,

of dielectric material, preferably glass, sup portedcentrally within the casing 42. The casing 59 is provided with a flange 59 ,'wh1ch rests upon a cover of insulating material 60, on top of thUcasing/LQ. Thevessel 59 extends through a central opening in said cover and the top and bottom of the vessel are sealed around the pipe 58. The vessel 59 contains a conducting liquid, such'as acidulated water, and a Wire 61 extends from one pole of a suitable current source 1; into said liquid. Another wire 62 extends from the opposite pole of said current source to the casing 4% by Way of a binding post 63. The interior of this casing is preferably coated with a dielectric material, such as insulating enamel or glass. The body of acidulated Water forms one electrode, while the casing forms an opposing electrode, and the current from the high tension source 6 causes a brush discharge bet-Ween the concentric Walls of said electrodes. The air and Vapor from the evaporating or freezing chamber-flows downwardly through the pipe into the lower part of the casing $2, and thence upwardly through the electric field between the electrodes and out through an of openings 6 t, in the upper 65, and thence through a pipe 66, preferably of insulating material, to the During the course of the air and vapor through the ionizing chamber they are suhject to the ionizing influence of the electric field and the ions form nuclei around which the vapors condense.

before referred to, loiters the temperature and t'avors coalescence of the vapor around the ionspump 41.

The expansion the Because of the rarefied state oithe gases and vapor, their 1on1za-.

tion is facilitated by collisions between the charged and uncharged particles. As a resuit of the coalescence of the vapor. due to the ionizing process, the volume of? vapor to be removed by the pump is greatly'lesscued, and therefore, a pump of compare tively small size may he used for removing the vapors.

In operation, if the plantillustratedin Fig. l is just being started, the entire systern within which the/air circulates, may be exhausted-to a low pressure by operating the pumps 8 and. 51, after the can has been placed in the freezing chamber and'the' door I of the latter has beenclosed. By opening the valveQd, the pumptd willexhaust air directly from the freezing chamber and circulating system, and by opening a valve 67 in a pipe 68, which forms a by-pass around the pressure regulating valve 52, the pump 51 will exhaust air directly from the system. When a high vacuum has been attained, the

valves 23 and 67 are closed and the main' exhaust pump 41 is started into operation as well as the ratchet mechanism controlling the admission of water and the electricfield in the ionizing chamber is established. The

electric current may be applied constantly. to

with the valve 53, which cam will close the switch synchronously with the closing of said valve. Suflicient air to operate the apparatus remains therein after the prelimimoved by the pump nary exhaustion of the freezing chamber and circulating "system. Ifmore air is desired, it may be admitted through the valve 69, and if the apparatus contains an excess of air, while in operation, the air will be re- 51, through the pressure regulating va ve 52, which opens in response to an increase in air pressure above a predetermined amount. The pipe 26 1S- lowered, by releasing the ratchet metllavals',

nism, until-the air defle ctor at the bottom of the pipe is close to the bottom of the can and the valve.13 is opened at timed interallowing small charges of water to enter the freezing chamber and flow to the "bottom of the freezing can. As each charge isadmitted, the air pipe 26 is moved upward one step, thus keeping the lower end of the pipe always abovethe surface of the water, but close to it. The admission of water and the lifting of the air pipe, it will be understood, will be timed so that these operations will take place only asfast as the successive charges of water can be frozen, and thus the ice willbe frozen in successive layers, into a solid block, while the air deflector at the lower end of the 'air pipe will alwaysbe closeto the layers of water as-they are spread out on the ice beneath. The cradle on which the can is supported is constantly rocked so as to flow the water slowly back and forth, which facilitates the escape of any air entrained in the water, and also hastens .the freezing process. The main exhaust pump 41 is kept in constant operation and the mingled air and vapors are drawn from the freezing chamber through the ionizing chamber and into thepump, coalescence of the vapors, by the ionizing process previously described, taking place in the ionizing chamber, which coalescence helps to maintain the vacuum and reduces the work required of. the pump in exhaustingthe vapo'rs from the vacuum chamber. The air and vapors drawn out by the pump are eompressed through the oil filter into the condenser, where the vapors are condensed and pass to the well w, while the air returns to the freezing chamber through the pipes 45 and 26,'the rotary valve 53, in the pipe 45,

causing the air entering the freezing chamber to pulsate, and thus causin a. swifter How of the air over the surface 0 the water,

which is found advantageous both in lowering the temperature and in gently agitating the water, which hastens its conversion into ice when the temperature of the water is lowered to or below the freezing point. The velocity of the air over the water may be regulated to some extent by adjusting the valve 46 to more or less restrict the passageway between the pipe {l5 and pipe 26 leading to the interior of the refrigerating chamber. By restricting this passageway, the

air flowing through the pipe 26 will be expanded and will fiow with greater rapidit over the surface of the water.

After a block of ice has been frozen, 27cc valves 56 and 46 may be closed and the valve 69 opened to break the vacuum in the freezing chamber, and when the can as been removed and an empty can inserted, the door of the freezing chamber will be closed and the air pipe lowered, and thk pump 8 will then exhaust the freezing cham-.

ber ahd the pipe 26, after which the valves 46 and 56 will be opened to connect thev freezing chamber with the rest of the circulating system.

\Vhile the apparatus couldbe operated with air admitted from the atmosphere and exhausted again to the atmosphere, this .would require a much greater expenditure of power than is neccssaryby the system .herein described, where the air is circulated within the apparatus,'and the closed air circulating system is therefore preferred. For the purpose of causing a coalescence of vapors within the vacuum chamber, I may admit other ionizable gases than air to said chamber; but for practical and economical reasons, air is the preferred medium. 'The ionizing of the gases might also be accomplished by any well known means other than the application of a brush discharge; but for practical reasons, the electrical method of causing ionization of the gases is pre '120 ferred.

\Vith the apparatus and method herein described, water can be frozen with a pres 7 sure as high at 35 m. m. prevailing in the refrigerating chamber; whereas, by the usu 11 vacuum recess where air is excluded as ar as practicable, freezing does not take place at a greater pressure than approximatel y 4.6 m. m. also by the present-method, the freezing process is carried out much more rapidly than by the ordinary vacuum This is illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein the similarly numbered parts are the same as in Fig. 1., In Fig. 2, however, the freezing;

chamber is connected directly to the pump 41, inst ad of through the ionizing chamber,

. chamber by and ,t latter chamber is connected between the pphdenser and the pipe leading into the freezi chamber; Thus, in Fig. 2, thepipe lea s from the chamber 12 to the pump 41, while the inlet pi e 58 of the ionizing hamber, is connecte to ipe 4&5, leading from the condenser it, an the outlet pipe 4C5 from the ionizing chamber leads through valve 53 to the pipes 26 and. 26, to the chamber 12.

if With this arrangement, itflwill he evidentthat the air, or other ionizable gas employed, instead. of passing through the ionizing chamber after leaving thetreeaing chamber, as in Fig. 1, wil flomhrst through the ionizing chamber ,andthen to the treezing way or pipes 45, d5", 26, and 26, and Wi beysubiected to the ionizing influence before j enterine the) freezing cham her. The operation of "other respects will he t e ,samer es in and when the ionized gas mingles with the vapors on its way tot the pumpithroughtthe freezing chamber, the vapor coalescence will take place the same as in therarrahgement shown in Fig. l, whereih'the gas is/ioniiied.

. vapor within the system.

While mingled with the vapors.

It will be evident that by admitting hrinepl instead of fresh water .tothe'evapcrating chamber, the water from the brine will be,

evaporated, leaving; the salt crystals, and

similarly, any substance containing Water 5 or moisture, placed in said chamber, can be at. one mama-"ore dried, without treezingt by operating the apparatus with a somew in the evaporating chamber than that re-- quired for ihg-mahinf'g. For drying purposes, the form of the evaporating chamber may be changed to suit the substances to he treated, andthe freezing therefor/may he omitted.

,Wh at I claiitc is: M

I vaporating liquids in a vacuum system, which comprises coni stantly exhausting the system, admitting a regulated quantity of ionizable gas to said 'ystem, and subject1ng saidgas to an ionizing influence.

g 2. The method oi? evaporating liquids in a 'vauum system "which comprises constantly exhausting the system, admitting a regulated the [apparatus 'all at higher'pressure can and support l v i quantity of ionizable gas to said system, and subjecting said gas to an intermittent ionizing influence.

The method of evaporating liquids in 5. The methcd 'of evaporating liquids in a vacuum system which comprises constantly exhausting the system, admitting a regulat ed current of air when in close contact with the liquid, and. applying anionizing influ I once to the air.

. '6. The method of evaporating liquids: which comprises introducingthe liquid intoi a vacuum system, constantly. exhausting the system, causing a restricted cur-rent of.a1rto flow in close contact with the liquid, and applying an ionizing influence to the air. 1

7. The methodofyevaporating liquids, which comprises introducing the liquid and" an ionizable gas into a vacuum system, conustantlyexhaustinglthe system, and apply ng an. ionizing influence to the gas and ,yapor' within the system.

8. The method of evaporating, 'liquids as j which comprises introducing the liquid and an ionizahle (gas into a vacuum system, constantly exhausting the system, and-applying an electrical ionizing influence to the gas and 9. The method of evaporating liquids ice ' which-. coinprises introducing the liquid and g i ipniza le gas into a vacuuin system, constantly' exhausting thesystem, and applying the li uid.

it); which comprises introducing thel quid into vacuum'sy'stem, constantly exhausting the to said system, and applying an ionizing influence to the air and vapor w thin the 11. The method of evaporat ng llguids which comprises introducing the liquid intoa vacuum system, constantlyexhausting the system, ddmitting a restricted current of alrto said system, and-applyinpf'an electrical ionizing. influence to the. air and vapor within the system.

an ionizing infiuence'to. the gas'and vapor withinthe system at a point remote fromhe method bi? evaporating, liquids system, admitting a restricted current of air rrc rea

12. The method or evaporizing liquids which comprises introducing the. liquidihtu fa vacuum system, constantly exhausting system, causing a restricted current of air to fioW in close contact With the liquid, and applying an ionizing influence to the air and vapor Within the system. J

13. The method of evaporating li uids avhich comprises introducing the liquid into a vacuum system, constantly exhausting the system, causing a restricted current of air to flow in close contact With the liquid, and

applying an electrical ionizing influence to the air and vapor Within the system.

14. The method of evaporating liquids wliich'comprises introducing the liquid into a vacuum system, constantly exhausting the system, causing a restricted, pulsating current of air to'flow in close contact with the liquid, and applying an ionizing influence to the air and vapor within the system.

15. In an apparatus for evaporating liquids,

a vacuum system comprising an evaporatin v izing influence to the gas.

-means for constantly admitting an ionizable 17 In an apparatus for evaporatingliquids, a vacuum system comprising an evaporating compartment adapted to contain a liquid, means for -constantly exhausting said system, means for constantly admitting an ionizable gas to said system, and electrical means for applying an ionizing influence to the gas and vapor within the system. '1

18. In an apparatus for evaporating liquids, a vacuum system comprising an evaporating compartment adapted to contain 'a liquid, means for constantlyexhau'sting said system,

gas to said system, and means for applying an ionizing influenceto the gas and vapor 3\ vitliin the system at a point remote from means for constantly exhausting said system,

means for constantly admitting a limited floiv' of air into. said system, and means for applying an ionizing influence to the air and vapor within the system. p

20. An apparatus for evaporating liquids, comprising a closed evaporating chamber adapted to contain a liquid, means for constantly exhausting said chamber, an ionizing chamber connected between the evaporating chamber and exhaust mechanism, and means for constantly admitting a regulated amount of ionizable gas to the ionizing chamber.

21. An apparatus fol-evaporating liquids, comprising a closed evaporating chamber adapted to contain a liquid, means for con stantly exhausting said chamber, an ionizing chamber connected between the evaporating chamber and exhaust mechanism, means for constantly admitting a regulated amount of ionizable gas to the ionizing chamber, and means for causing an electric field in said chamber.

22. An apparatus for evaporating liquids, comprising a closed evaporating chamber adapted to contain a l quid, means for exhausting said chamber, an ionizing chamber WILLIAM T. HooFNAcL'n. 

